/r/Biochemistry

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A place to post news and discuss the frontiers of biochemistry and biotechnology. Please refrain from posting home videos with songs and raps.

/r/Biochemistry

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2

What should I study for my undergraduates, biochemistry, pharmaceutical science or biotechnology

Thanking for taking a look.

I took 3 A-levels between Maths, biology and chemistry and I was able to get an A in all three subjects and I want to work in my family business which produces cosmetic products in the future. What do you think I should study? Here are some additional things I would like to know • what is considered the easiest • what is the difficulty jump from high school to those uni courses

I'm aware that this sub is the biochemistry sub and I'm asking about other courses too so l apologize if this does not align with the sub rules.

4 Comments
2024/10/01
13:42 UTC

12

Tips to keep track of 96 well plate pipetting

So I feel like I keep messing up serial dilutions because I keep forgetting which well I stopped at every time I change tips or blink lol. Any tips on how to keep track of the wells I’ve already done in case someone has the same problem

22 Comments
2024/10/01
11:21 UTC

1

catalase inhibitor

Hi, I’m doing a research and I need to inhibit catalase of blood, but it need to be solid and preferably non-toxic, at least not to the respiratory system. Could someone help me with this?

P.S. I don't know if this violates the homework rule. This isn’t a homework, but Idk.

0 Comments
2024/10/01
03:19 UTC

2

Sep 30: Weekly Research Plans

Writing a paper?

Re-running an experiment for the 18th time hoping you finally get results?

Analyzing some really cool data?

Start off your week by sharing your plans with the rest of us. å

2 Comments
2024/09/30
15:00 UTC

10

Switching field, how?

I'm not sure if this is the route I want to take in life, whether it's the field, or just research, I don't know. So I've been looking into other options, but the more I look, the more I realise there are entire jobs and subfields I have never heard of.

For those of you who switched fields, whilst still using your degree, what did you go into, and how?

2 Comments
2024/09/30
13:18 UTC

7

Hydrophobic resin coagulation

Has anyone encountered this? My hydrophobic resin from Cytiva just coagulated after CIP cycle

6 Comments
2024/09/30
05:32 UTC

28

Are there still good job opportunities with a Biochem B.S. and no grad school/med school?

Hello, I am 1-2 years away from graduating with a B.S. in Biochem. Unfortunately, I dislike my major a lot! I do not intend on changing majors (....yet) and I want to finish getting this degree. I have no plans on attending grad school or med school. What jobs/careers could I look into once I graduate? And is there anythings I can do right now to prepare and increase my chances of getting these jobs? Please be very specific and detailed when explaining these things if you can.... I get confused easily lol

16 Comments
2024/09/30
05:05 UTC

0

Bubbly Freeze dried product

0 Comments
2024/09/30
02:01 UTC

11

Path to career in drug R&D without a relevant bachelors degree?

Hey everyone, I am a recent college graduate with a bachelors in mechanical engineering, but I’ve been thinking about switching career paths. I won’t go into the why of everything, just that I am considering a career in drug R&D and am trying to figure out what the most feasible path to that would be. I’d imagine it would be pretty difficult if not almost impossible to be accepted into a graduate program in bio science or chemistry with a bachelors in ME. Therefore I’m thinking the most logical path would be getting a masters in biomedical engineering, then a phd in biochem or a related field. If there’s anyone here who went into this field with an unrelated bachelors degree that can share their experience, please do! Any insight would be appreciated, thanks.

4 Comments
2024/09/29
22:28 UTC

3

Lehninger biochem ebook

I'm just curious if the etextbook is any different from the paperback? I've used online versions of textbooks before and realized they were worse than the actual ones. Has anyone used the ebook and know if it's good enough to get over the paperback?

2 Comments
2024/09/29
20:23 UTC

2

Rf values in chromatography

Please help me. So in chromatography, we’re looking for the Rf values. Please help me clear this up.

So the constant distance of the solvent is 5cm. While these are the distance solutes of unknown:

A: 1.45 cm - Rf value: 0.29 B: 1.87 cm - Rf value: 0.37 C: 3.73 cm - Rf value: 0.75

The amino acids are: Glutamic acid, alanine, lysine

Please help me figure out the unknown and how can I interpret the results? Thank you very much!! I will love you forever 💖

2 Comments
2024/09/29
11:33 UTC

1

Hemoglobin in Leukocytes

Hi, so I've been reading about hemoglobin and in the Wikipedia article it mentioned about non erythroid hemoglobins, or hemoglobins present in other cells except the red blood cells. As I went through the list I noticed that hemoglobin has never been mentioned to also be located in white blood cells. I know that hemoglobin is largely present in erythrocytes but has there been instances of hemoglobin being located in leukocytes, or is there any particular reason as to why hemoglobin will never be found in leukocytes?

I'd gladly read all the studies that you can share...

4 Comments
2024/09/29
01:58 UTC

3

How do additives and preservatives effect the absorption of drugs in the human body?

Hello all,

There is a massive debate in the bodybuilding world if generic is as good as pharma growth hormone.

The additives and preservatives of a very popular generic brand were tested, and these were the results:

Disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate
Sodium phosphate dibasic dihydrate
Glycine
Boloxane 188
Mannitol
Disodium EDTA

Genotropin, Pharmacy grade HGH for stunted growth contains the following:

https://webfiles.pfizer.com/file/5b3c28f1-7d41-4ffb-96ef-9aad36af53fc?referrer=ccb731e5-4f2d-4f4a-b2dc-e5e912145fc6

0.22 mg - 2.26 mg Somatropin for Injection
0.23 - 0.24 mg glycine
13.8 - 14.1 mg mannitol
0.050 - 0.051 mg sodium dihydrogen phosphate anhydrous
0.027 - 0.028 mg disodium phosphate anhydrous

Serostim, Pharmacy grade HGH for wasting AIDs patients contains:

https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00018011.PDF
5 mg somatropin
1.2 mg phosphoric acid
0.7 mg sodium hydroxide
34.2 mg sucrosesodium hydroxide and/or phosphoric acid for pH adjustment to pH 7.5 ± 0.1

The active chemical in all 3 of these formulas is the same. Do the additives or preservatives modify the absorption and affect on the human body?

2 Comments
2024/09/29
00:34 UTC

23

Is it even possible to synthesize pure dopamine?

I far as I understand amphetamines treat ADHD by releasing Dopamine, in that case, why don't you just inject dopamine from the getgo? Can't you synthesize it or do I miss a thing about ADHD medication?

14 Comments
2024/09/28
13:07 UTC

11

Seeking advice on my first laboratory job opportunity

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and I’m considering my first lab job, but I could use some advice. The position involves working Wednesday to Friday from 7 PM to 7 AM with rotating Saturdays, at a pay rate of $32 an hour after night differentials. I’d also be expected to work holidays if they fall on those days.

The role would involve manufacturing DNA-based products for various industries like biotech, pharma, agriculture, etc. So this would be a great fit for me.

The catch is that I have virtually no lab experience, aside from a molecular and cell biology course I took during undergrad. So, I see this as a great opportunity to get my foot in the door.

Especially for those who have been in similar situations, do you think this is a worthwhile opportunity? I would be all for it if it was a 7am-7pm, but I’m a little worried about those 12-hour night shifts 😅. Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

5 Comments
2024/09/28
01:05 UTC

5

Sep 28: Cool Papers

Have you read a cool paper recently that you want to discuss?

Do you have a paper that's been in your in your "to read" pile that you think other people might be interested in?

Have you recently published something you want to brag on?

Share them here and get the discussion started!

0 Comments
2024/09/28
00:00 UTC

1

Expected salary for MS and PhD

Hey all, I'm currently a PhD student in Biochemistry. When I graduate I will have a MS and PhD in this field. Can anyone with similar education experience share their income and what sector of biochem you're in?

3 Comments
2024/09/27
23:59 UTC

35

I have no idea what to do after I graduate this spring

I'm currently an undergraduate biochemistry major set to graduate in the spring. Like the title says I have no idea what I want to do with it. Everyone makes it seem like this degree is useless unless you pursue further education like grad school. The problem is I don't know if grad school is for me and I do not want to go into grad school broke after all the debt I've accumulated in my undergrad. Med school is too expensive I've never considered it as an option. I'm so incredibly stressed about my future especially in a financial aspect. I've even considered going into the military just to be financially stable. Does anyone who didn't go to grad or med school have any advice for me? I was thinking of taking a gap year and working as a pharmacy tech to gain experience and connections and then apply to pharmacy school the following year.

9 Comments
2024/09/27
23:30 UTC

9

Is it better to try all the techniques possible or master a narrow range of techniques?

So, I am in my final year undergrad, currently doing a lab project. I really want to go to industry, but if it doesn’t work out I want to apply for a PhD program or Masters. While I want to stay in the field I am currently in (immunology/infection biology), I want to try something new and consider programmes that involve use of proteomics and Mass-Spec since it seems like a big deal in life sciences nowadays.

Is it better to try as many techniques as possible but have a novice level of knowledge or stick to a certain field like immunology and the techniques it includes? What would be more useful for industry (going into industry is my final goal, since I don’t know if I can afford staying in academia)

5 Comments
2024/09/27
18:33 UTC

6

Biochemistry career

Is it possible for pharmacist to become biochemist? I'm soon finishing my MPharm studies and I'm very interested in biochemistry of aging and considering applying for PhD, is this good career option or should I continue pharmacy career or maybe PhD in pharm sciences?

2 Comments
2024/09/27
16:53 UTC

2

Help with using VMD program

If anyone has knowledge of VMD for visualizing proteins, I am very stuck on a homework problem.

I have a protein that I need to represent with the beta sheets in blue and alpha helices in red, however, whenever I select a type of structure and change the color, it changes the color of the whole protein. I've read the manual my professor gave us and looked it up online, but no matter what I do, it keeps changing the color of the whole protein.

Is there anyone that knows what I need to select to be able to customize the color of each part of said protein?

6 Comments
2024/09/27
16:49 UTC

2

Vienna BioCenter PhD Program autumn call

Hi! I am considering to apply for the doctoral program of Vienna BioCenter PhD Program for autumn call. I would like to know if someone has done this PhD or is currently enrolling the program, and get some insights and feedback about this program?

0 Comments
2024/09/27
14:01 UTC

2

YouTube Videos request

(I am NOT asking for help with homework) so when I was in Orgo I used this one YouTube channel a lot, Organic Chemistry Tutor, and it was only cause of that channel that I survived, I found that he posted some videos on Biochemistry too, but not a lot. What I wanted to ask is if there are any YouTube channels that you all know that helped with understanding/reviewing the information (right now I’m in Biochem I and we are learning Enzyme Kinetics, but I wanted to know if there was a channel that covered the rest of Biochem as well)

1 Comment
2024/09/27
12:32 UTC

5

Biochemistry as a double major for engineering?

So I'm a freshman taking the basic classes for mechanical engineering. I originally planned on going to college for biochemistry and find the idea of working in the pharmaceuticals industry interesting. But I switched to mechanical engineering when choosing my classes since it found math and design fun as well in high school.

I'm thinking of taking both majors at the same time and going for a field such as biomechanics or process engineering. But I haven't dug super deep into the options yet. My school doesn't offer chemical engineering and it's not available anywhere local either.

So I'd like to know how viable an engineering and biochemistry double major would be. And if it is viable, would mechanical or electrical give me more opportunities? Or will I regret this idea as simply a waste of money and time?

Statistics don't always give you the full picture, so I appreciate any firsthand insights.

11 Comments
2024/09/27
03:06 UTC

3

Trouble with antibody thiolation with Traut's Reagent (2-Iminothiolane•HCl)

I am trying to add thiol groups to some antibodies using Traut's reagent (2-Iminothiolane•HCl) [2-IT]. However, I am having some issues with the end product.

The manual says that for IgG proteins, a 10-fold molar excess of 2-IT should be enough to react for 1 hour at room temperature (pH 8.0). According to the manual, there should be 3-7 sulfhydryl groups after this reaction.

My lab has been using 150 molar excess at pH 7.4, reasons unknown to any current members. Someone a decade ago made the protocols and everyone was following it. However, as I read the manual, it says more than 50-fold 2-IT can negatively affect the antibody functionality.

I checked whether the results varied, so I tested 4 conditions - pH 7.4 and pH 8, 15, and 150 molar excess in both pH. After the reaction, I tested the amount of thiol group present in the samples with a thiol assay. The amount of thiol was much higher in the 150-molar excess groups, but for the same molar excess of 2-IT, pH did not seem to play a major role.

To calculate thiol per antibody, I simply divided the thiol concentration by the antibody concentration. Again, surprised, thiol/antibody was around 1.16 for 150 molar excess groups (in both pH).

I am not sure if I am doing something wrong! Please let me know if you have any questions about the procedure.

0 Comments
2024/09/27
01:31 UTC

5

So studying metabolism of lipids, especifically beta-oxidation of 16C chained fatty acids (Palmitoyl CoA). Net production of ATP is 129 ATP for ONE FATTY ACID. 1 ATP = 7.28 kcal. And 129 x 7.28 = 940kcal. So ONE F**ING FATTY ACID IS 940 calories?

If a pound is 3500 which divided by 940 = 3.7 fatty acids? Am I wrong? Am I overreacting? Does this all seem kinda like fake news? My source is: Lippincott Illustrated Reviews Biochemistry 7th Edition. And some random AI/Quora search that says ATP = 7.28 kcal.

10 Comments
2024/09/27
00:55 UTC

16

I am a Biochemistry student with low CGPA and I don't know what to do with my career

I recently got into my 3rd year of Biochemistry degree. Initially, I was forced to be in healthcare (brown family expectations) and I wanted to pursue something very different. With time, I started to really like this subject and I am trying to do my best in this major now. It's almost magic how much I started to like this major.

But since I was quite apathetic towards this major in the first 1.5 years of university, my grades were barely average. I currently have a CGPA of 2.75 out of 4 and I am trying my best to do as good as possible. However, to be realistic, considering I have 11 more courses left to finish this degree, with rising difficulty of the degree, it might be close to impossible for me to get my CGPA to 3.00 or above.

I want to do my master's degree after this. My current dream is to pursue Child Nutrition or get into Public Health. If I get into research, I want to work with Maternal and Offspring Health. I want to stay within healthcare. But with my CGPA, I am having multiple panic attacks almost EVERY SEMESTER about what am I going to do later.

I have tried to get into labs my professors are working on, but they do not take in new people that often and with my CGPA, they perhaps immediately cancel my applications.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to get into a Master's program in case my CGPA does not change from this? Is it impossible for me to dream of a career in this field? This is almost an urgent call for help. Please help me out.

11 Comments
2024/09/26
23:52 UTC

2

**UK Scientists** - B. choshinenis

Are any UK-based working with this Brevibacillus species? The non-sporulating strain. Takara Bio has discontinued this strain and it's something I'd really like to work with.

0 Comments
2024/09/26
18:30 UTC

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